matthews



(Model.)

, 2 Sheets-Shetl.l W. MATTHEWS.

' TUGK FOLDER EOE SEWING MACHINES.

Patented Nov. 18, 1884.

'LVVENTOR Homey N. PETERS. mnimhugmpm wmingm", n. c.

(Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet -2.

W. MATTHEWS.

TUCK FOLDER PGR SEWING MACHINES. No. 308.319.

Patented Nov. 18, 1884.

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N. PTERS. PhaIn-Ulhographar. Wallnllm llc.

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VILLIAM MATTHEWS, OF SEDALIA, 'MISSOURL ASSIGNOB OF ONE-FOURTH TOVILLIAM CAMPBELL, OF SAME PLACE.

TUCK-FOLDER FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 308,319, dated November18, 1884:.

(Model.)

T all whom t may concern: v

Be it known that l, WILLIAM MATTHEws, a citizen of the United States,residing at Sedalia, in the county of Pettis and State of Missouri, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Tuck-Folders for Sewing-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadtherein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to certain improvements in tuck-folders, and isdesigned to produce a device that shall fold tucks in cloth and pass itdirectly to the needle. The device will also make tucks ofdiiierentwidths, and can be set so as to vary the distance between them.

The operation and construction of the device will be hereinafter setforth, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in

2O Which- Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the device attachedto a sewing-machine; Fig. 2, a side elevation, partly in section, of thehanger7 which is attached to the needlebar casing; Fig. 3, a plan viewof the slideplate covering the shuttle and the adjustable guide attachedthereto; Fig. 4, a section through the line y y of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, adetail perspective of a portion of the adjustable 3o guide attached tothe hanger, and Fig. 6 a

cross-section through a: x of Fig. 2.

A represents the hanger-supporting arm, which is bent into .a compoundcurve, as shown. The top of the arm is laterally extended to one side,and the said extension B has two right-angle tongues, C and D, one underthe extension and one to one side of the saine. This enables the saidarm to be iitted to the usual rectangular sewing-machine 0 -head and tobe secured to said holder by a thumb-screw, E, which passes through theextension and into the holder. The lower end of the hanger-arm is eitherextended laterally or has an additional piece, F, secured to it, whichpiece extends so that the extremity of its free end is about on a linewith the needle or a very little beyond it. This extremity G bends downsomewhat and has a right-angle extension on each side, one, H, beingrounded at the end, so as to offer no resistance to the passage of thecloth. For a distance on each side the piece F are upward and inwardprojecting flanges l. On top the piece F is the sliding piece K, formedof a rectangular strip, with the edges turned down so as to enter 55.under the flanges l and be retained and guided by them. The strip K hasa lug, L, on its under side, forming a seat which ,retains theverticallyprojecting screw-threaded post M. This post passes through twostrips, one, N, 6o engaging with the flanges l and clamping the strip Kin place when the thumbscrew O on top the post is screwed down, andtheother, P, having an extended indicator-point on one side. The purpose ofthese parts will be more fully hereinafter set forth. To the forward endof the strip K is fixed the projecting tongue R, on either side ofwhich, at right angles to it, are the wings S. The purpose of' all willbe set forth hereinafter.

T represents the usual slideplate covering the shuttle in machines ofthe class shown in the drawings, although the device being de scribed isnot necessarily conned to said class. To this plate is secured a plate,U, having its sides somewhat approaching and one edge, V, turned upwardand slightly over the plate, as shown. From the narrower or rear end ofthe said plate V projects at right angles the U-shaped piece lV, havingits free end raised 8O slightly above the other, and on the said freeend, near the turn or curveI in the piece or arm, is raised the lug orflange X. On the free end, from the flange outward, is a series ofdivisions, Y. Adapted to slide longitudinally on S5 the said free end ofthe arm WV is the piece Z, having at its inner end the lug A', similarin shape to the one, X, on the arm. The lug A has through it ascrew-threaded hole and the lug X a corresponding smooth one, and in andthrough these holes is adapted to operate the thumb-screw B', whichadjusts the piece Z along the arm on which it rests. This piece has oneach side tongues C', which are bent downward and inward, thus securingthe said 9 5 piece to the arm and allowing it to travel thereon. Thepiece Z has, at its outer or freeend, two right-angle extensions-one,D', short and the other, E', on the opposite side longand having aslight upward turn, as shown. roo

In Fig. l several parts of a common form of machine are shown in dottedlines, so as to show the relation and position of the tuckl er" to thesaid machine; also, in the same figure (l) the part G should be underthe part D E, but is placed a short distance out of position, so that`its full shape may be clearly shown. The parts being in properposition-that is, the piece F of the hanger nearly touching thebed-plate of the sewingmaehine, with the head G about on a line with theneedle and opposite the piece Z-the cloth is passed over the piece WV Zand under the hanger AF, the parts having been previously separatedsufficiently to allow such manipulation. The gage represented in Figs. 5and 6 ofthe drawings having been adi usted before the cloth is inserted,the folder Z is adjusted forward till its head rests under the lip It,carrying the cloth with it. The tuck thus being folded and resting onthe pieceW Z,around and under the head ofthe piece'Z and over the pieceF,and around the headG II and under the hanger A F, is passed under theneedle and sewed. Then by carrying the finished tuck under the hanger AF till the line of sewing is at the point of the indicator P, ashereinafter described,- the distance between it and the next tuck willbe regulated. To arrange the cloth for each succeeding tuck, the partsare disenlgaged by slightly withdrawing the folder Z, the upwardtendency of the arm W being sufficient to press the cloth against thesaid tongue, and so neatly fold it. The plate U serves as a guide forthe edge of the fold of the cloth. The indicator on the piece P servesto a certain extent to regulate the distance between the tucks, as itwill pass through a considerable distance, the post M being its pivot,before it engages with'the edges of the plate F. The end of theindicator will reach to the edge of the wings S. A tuck having beenformed, the edge of it is placed at the end of the indicator and thecloth folded around the tucker,7 as described, and it thus indicates,and thereby regulates, the distance between the tucks, as stated, thewidth of the tuck being regulated by the other parts of the device, asbefore set forth. Having been properly folded by the tucker, the clothimmediately passes to the needle,where the tucks are sewed, the stitchespassing through three thicknesses of the cloth, thus making the seamstrong and durable under all circumstances.

Sewing-machines being of widely-different construction and operation,the right to vary the construction of the device, without departing fromthe spirit of the invention, is reserved. The tuck-folder U W Z may beotherwise attached to the machine than to the sliding plate, and othermeans used to secure it.

Having described' the invention, what I claim is l. A tucking,attachment for sewing-machines, consisting in the combination of anadjustable folder secured to the slide-plate or other part of thebed-plate of a machine with a hanger secured to the sewing-machine head,the said hanger having an extension adapted wise, and consisting of adependent arm having on its lower end a right-angle extension, which hasa head adapted to fold cloth, the said extension having on each sideflanges for guiding and retaining a gage and indicator traveling on thesame, the whole device being adapted to form tucks in cloth,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In combination with the gage attached to 'the sliding plate or otherpart of the machine,

and the hanger attached tothe arm, the adjustable gage adapted to travelon the rightangle extension of the hanger, and consisting of a platewith its edges turned down so as to engage under the iianges on theextension, and having erected on it a screw threaded post, which passesthrough a curved friction binding-plate, and a plate having on one sidean extended indicator, and also carrying a thumbscrew, and the tongueand wings on the end of the said plate, all the parts being arrangedsubstantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. In combination `with the hanger and sliding gage and indicatorthereon, the gage se cured to the sliding plate or other part of themachine, and consisting of a guide having one edge turned upward todirect the cloth asit is folded, a U -shaped extension, the free endbeing somewhat elevated above the other, and an adjustable strip slidingon the said free end, and having on each side bent tongues for,retaining the strip on the said end, the said strip having a headadapted to fold the cloth, one end of which is long and somewhat bent.all the parts arranged and adapted to operate substantially asdescribed.

5. In combination with the hanger and sliding gage and indicatorthereon, the adjustable gage secured to the sliding plate or other partof the machine, and consisting of a guidingplate and a right-angleU-extension, the elevated free end of which carries a sliding strip,which is provided with a head having one end long and slightly curved,the said strip being adjustable by means of a thumb-screw operating in atongue on the strip and one on the U- extension, the adjustment beingregulated by a scale on the said extension, all the parts being adaptedto voperate substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. rlhe combination of the hanger with its dependent arm and right-angleextension having on its sides retaining-flanges, and at its end a headlaterally extended and adapted to fold the cloth, the gage and indicatorconsisting of a plate fitting under the said flanges, having at one enda projecting tongue and wings and centrally a screw threaded post IOOIIO

Carrying a friction binding-plate and an indiing' through a ange at theeud of the same, Gator, both of which are retained bya thumball theparts operating substantially as and screw, and a gage consisting of aguiding-p1ate for the purpose specified. Secured to the sliding plate orother part of I In testimony whereof I afxiny signaturein 5 the machine,and having a right-angle U-expresence of two Witnesses.

tension7 the elevated free end of which has on a y, l it a flange andscale, and is adapted to carry XX ILLIAM MATTHEWS' the slidingtuck-folder with a laterallyelon- W'itnesses: gated bent head, the saidtuck-folder being,` ILLIAM CAMPBELL, 1c adjustable by means of athumb-screw pass- S. G. NEEDLES.

